Aglaonema plant named `illumination`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema named `Illumination` particularly characterized by its outwardly arching growth habit; glossy silver green upper leaf surfaces with dark green, yellowish green and white spots and streaks; white petioles; tolerance to low temperatures; and resistance to diseases common to Aglaonema.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAglaonema plant, botanically known as Aglaonema nitidum var. nitidum f.curtisii ×Aglaonema marantifolium tricolor and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name `Illumination`.

The new Aglaonema is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the inventor in Quezon City, The Philippines. The new Aglaonemaoriginated from a cross made by the inventor of the nonpatentedAglaonema nitidum var. nitidum f. curtisii cultivar `Jeannie` as thefemale, or seed, parent with an unnamed plant of Aglaonema marantifoliumtricolor as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar `Illumination` wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor as a seedling within the progenyof the stated cross in a controlled environment in Quezon City, ThePhilippines in August, 1986.

Plants of the new Aglaonema differ from plants of the parents, Aglaonemanitidum var. nitidum f. curtisii cultivar `Jeannie` and Aglaonemamarantifolium tricolor, in petiole color, leaf color and leaf markings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by divisions at Quezon City, ThePhilippines, and Zolfo Springs, Fla., has shown that the unique featuresof this new Aglaonema plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

The new Aglaonema has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, fertilizer rate,and/or irrigation amount and frequency without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Illumination`. These characteristicsin combination distinguish `Illumination` as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Plants of the new Aglaonema are outwardly arching in growth.

2. The upper surfaces of mature leaves of plants of the new Aglaonemaare glossy silver green with dark green, yellowish green and white spotsand streaks.

3. The leaves of the new Aglaonema are relatively long.

4. Mature leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema have white petioles.

5. Plants of the new Aglaonema are tolerant of low temperatures, thatis, ambient temperatures of about 8° C. do not cause foliar damage.

6. Plants of the new Aglaonema are resistant to diseases common toAglaonema.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical single plant of `Illumination` in a 25-cm container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view ofthe upper surfaces of a young leaf (top) and fully mature leaf (bottom).Leaf colors in the photographs may appear different from the actualcolors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Zolfo Springs, Fla., under a polypropylene-covered shadehouseand conditions which closely approximate those used in horticulturalpractice. Plants were grown under day temperatures ranging from 21 to38° C. and night temperatures ranging from 7 to 21° C. The polypropyleneshade provided a 84 percent decrease in ambient light level. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Aglaonema nitidum var. nitidum f.curtisii×Aglaonema marantifolium tricolor cultivar `Illumination`.

Parentage:

Female, or seed, parent.--Aglaonema nitidum var. nitidum f. curtisiicultivar `Jeannie`, not patented.

Male, or pollen, parent.--An unnamed plant of Aglaonema marantifoliumtricolor.

Propagation:

Type.--By division and by cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 28 and 60 days at 270 and 10° C.,respectively.

Time to develop roots.--About 37 and 94 days at 270 and 10° C.,respectively.

Rooting habit.--Numerous thick, fleshy, white roots.

Plant description:

Plant shape.--Outwardly arching and spreading, mounded habit,symmetrical. Closely-spaced leaves give plants a full and denseappearance.

Growth habit.--Erect when young, becoming more outwardly arching andspreading. Appropriate for 25-cm containers.

Plant size.--Height, soil surface to top of leaf canopy: About 55 cm.Width: About 80 cm.

Plant vigor.--Moderate.

Stem description.--Diameter at soil surface: About 2.5 cm. Internodelength: About 2.5 cm. Color, mature: Dark yellowish green.

Foliage description.--Leaf shape: Oblong. Leaf length, fully expanded:About 29.5 cm. Leaf width, fully expanded: About 11 cm. Margin: Entire.Leaf tip: Acuminate. Leaf base: Cuneate. Leaf aspect: Mostly flat. Leaftexture: Leathery, smooth, glabrous, glossy on both surfaces. Leafcolor:

Young, upper surface:

Background: Closest to 138B to 147B. Dark green spots/streaks: 144A togreener than 147A. Yellowish green spots/streaks: 150A/150B/150C. Whitespots/streaks: 155D and 150D. Young, lower surface: Background:146B/146C. White spots/streaks: 155D. Mature, upper surface: Background:Closest to 191A. Dark green spots/streaks: 147A to darker than 147A.Light green and yellowish green spots/streaks: 144A, 154A, and150A/150B/150C. White spots/streaks: 155D and 150D. Mature, lowersurface: Background: Close to 146A/146B. White spots/streaks: 155D.Petiole length, primary shoot: About 22 cm. Petiole diameter at apex:About 6 mm. Petiole diameter at base: About 1.5 cm. Petiole wing:Apparent on lower 67% of mature leaf petiole, about 14 cm in length andabout 8.5 cm in width. Petiole color: Young: White, 155D, with green,144B. Mature: Mostly white, 155D. Venation: Mature, upper surface:Midvein: White, 155D, at base to yellowish green at apex. Lateral veins:Same as leaf color. Mature, lower surface: Midvein: White, 155D. Lateralveins: Same as leaf color.

Inflorescence.--Typical of Aglaonema, no commercial significance.

Disease tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema are exceptionallyresistant to diseases common to Aglaonema.

Low temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema are tolerant oflow temperatures, that is, ambient temperatures of about 8° C. do notcause damage.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant named`Illumination`, as illustrated and described.